CHAPTER 6 Willow starred through the window of Serenity’s imfermary, her breath fogging up the same spot as she breathed in anticipation. Inara was right behind her fists clenched at her sides Judith’s heart failed while Willow slept. She woke up from her restless sleep from the many alarms going off in the room. Simon and Kaylee ran into the room first, pushing the hysterical woman out of their space. The rest of the crew came running a few moments later. Mal put his hand on Willows left shoulder, reminding himself to be careful of the redhead’s injury to her right shoulder. Mal’s jaw clenched tighter with regret as Jayne pushed Zoë out of his way with his naked broad shoulder. “Judith. Listen to me, your going to fight this, you ain’t going to die. Dong ma?” Jayne’s blue eyes were filling up with tears as he fell to his knees beside his daughter’s bed. Simon swore in Chinese as he tried to work around the large mercenary. “Jayne, get the hell out of my way. If you want your daughter to live, let me do my goramm job.” Simon reached for the defibrillator and proceeded to put the paddles on Judith’s heart. After two shocks the young girls blue eyes opened wide. She started to choke and turned her head to the side, blood poured out of her mouth. Simon threw down the paddles and secured the little girl on the bed as much as he could. Jayne slowly walked backwards as he watched his daughter go into violent convolutions. He wanted so hard to help, but he felt useless. He hoped that Dr. Tamm knew what he was doing and could save Judith. Jayne turned around and came face to face with the scared green eyes of the woman he truly couldn’t live with out. He vowed to stay strong for his family but wasn’t sure how long his tough guy act will last. Behind the glass Willow could see the pain in her man’s eyes. She knew if their daughter doesn’t make it, Jayne will snap. She had only seen him like that once before, and it scared both of them. Up in space is not a good place for someone to fall apart. Willow swore under her breath. . “Mal, get Jayne out of here NOW.” Willow ordered the captain. Normally Mal wouldn’t listen to such an order, but due to the circumstances, he had no choice but to listen. Mal walked briskly into the imfermary and pulled Jayne out towards the door. “Jayne, go to the kitchen, get some water and cool off.” Jayne’s lips curled at the side of his mouth. He wanted to hit his captain but Willow’s soft cold hand caressed his shirtless back. “Let’s do what the captain said, the doctor will take care of Judith.” Willow led the distraught man away before he could make a fatal mistake. Inara made Mal put his arm around her and lead him back to the window. Willow looked back at Mal, his brown hair was a mess from the hard day they’ve all endured together. Back in the imfermary, Zoë helped the doctor and Kaylee clean up the blood on the floor. Judith finally was stabilized, but judging from the look on Simon’s face, she knew it wasn’t a good sign. “She’s not going to make it through the night is she?” Simon clenched the blood stained cloth in his hand tighter and starred blankly at the women in the room. Before he answered, Simon took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well, to be completely honest. The laser missed all major organs. But there is sufficient damage left to the nerves. But it’s the injury in her brain that I’m worried about. Her skull has been cracked from the fall, the brain’s basically swimming in blood.” Simon found it hard not to talk so technical, but he felt he had to for the sake of, they’re kind of like family to him and River. The women just looked to Simon for answers, Wash entered the room and hugged his Wife from behind. Zoë swore in Chines. “What do we do?” Kaylee asked, dazed by the news. “Pray!” everyone looked to Shepherd Book who already had his bible open to a specific page. “He’s right. I’m not going to lie. Wash can tell you it’ll be about ten more hours before we land on Ariel. Her body’s in shock and if she doesn’t get help right away.” Simon really didn’t want to finish his sentence. “It’ll be a miracle if Judith makes it in five hours.” River entered the room and finished it herself. Book had already started to pray while they talked. He laid his hand on Judith’s head and started to read her last rights

The mortuary on Ariel smelled a bit like formaldehyde. There was burning incense either to mask the odor, or give the small room a more fung shui feel. Whatever the case, it felt relaxing and quiet. White drapes flowed from the windows. On one side, black leather chairs and couches formed a circular pattern where another family sat crying and comforting each other. On the other side was the greeting area. Three Chinese women bowed as more families entered the room. Willow and Mal sat at the desk talking to one woman who was filling out a few papers as she asked questions about the plans for Judith’s funeral. “I can’t imagine how you two must feel right now, If I had lost any of my children, I wouldn’t be so calm.” Willow forced herself to smile. The truth is she had to be strong. If Jayne were here he would have torn this place apart. The small woman could tell Willow was trying not to cry, as the mortuary’s owner, she had seen it many times in her client’s face. “Don’t worry Mei Mei, your husband will help you through this tough time.” The beautiful Chinese woman excused herself as she got up from her chair and walked to another girl from across the room. Willow wanted to correct her but the look on Mal’s face was priceless. Captain Reynolds leaned back on his chair and cocked his head to the side to get a better view of the woman’s backside. He felt the heat of Willow’s stare at the back of his head and returned his glance back to the red head beside him. “You’re a big help today Captain.” Willow said sarcastically, with a bit of a grin. “I’m sorry? You put me in a room full of beauties, and you expect me not to appreciate my surroundings? Malcolm knew he was in the wrong. He put an apologetic arm around the peeved woman and pushed her to his chest. The petite woman returned to her desk with a silver box, decorated with red, black and gold art and Chinese script of Judith’s name. Tears welled up to the corners of Willow’s eyes, she let out a sob that shook her whole body. Her only thoughts were screaming in her mind. “I’m the worst mother in the verse.” Malcolm Reynolds felt his cue to be the man in charge and handed the small sack of money to the woman behind the desk. She pushed the papers towards him so he could put his signature on the specified lines. The two browncoats walked out of the mortuary and into a gorgeous sunny, autumn morning

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As they reached Serenity, Willow hit her knees and bowed her head in defeat. Jayne was waiting at the base of the platform with a cigar hanging from his lips. He watched in confusion as his first love refused to be comforted by the loving Captain. “Willow?” Jayne threw his cigar down to the ground and ran to the hysterical woman. “It’s not your fault.” Jayne felt it was his turn to be the strong one as he lifted his hand under Willow’s pale chin. “How could you say that?” Willow glared at Jayne and pushed herself up with her left hand. The two stood face to face, scowling at each other. Willow, barely tall enough to meet the blue sorrowful eyes, handed Jayne the silver box. “You’re right, it’s not my fault. If you didn’t join the Alliance you’d a helped me raise her.” Willow glanced at Mal and ran to join the crew in the cargo bay. He nodded, and signaled for Zoë. “What’s up Sir?” Zoë asked as she walked up beside the Captain. The warm autumn breeze blew through her dark curls. “Jayne? Do you want to explain yourself now, to us? OR… Wait for an after dinner story with the crew?” “Mal? This is not a good time for this.” The look on Malcolm Reynolds’ face said other wise. “Good time as any, now spill it.” The look on Mal’s face was the look she’d seen many times, before he dropped someone to his or her knees with his fist or with his pistol. Zoë grabbed the silver box from Jayne. “Don’t need any of that poor girls ashes spilt until we could give her a proper funeral. “ Zoë stepped back from the two men, her hand to her side guarding her pistol. “You guys know me, I don’t make any decisions unless I can get laid or money.” Mal’s fist landed square on the nose of his once trustworthy mercenary. Jayne fell to the ground, his hand over the bloody mess on his face. “Goramm it Mal, I think you broke my nose.” “I warned you Jayne, If at any moment I don’t feel I can trust you, you are off this ship.” Mal turned his back away from the man who had taken the last bit of hope away from his spirit. “Zoe, if he tries to charge at me, Shoot him.” Zoe turned to face Jayne who was fumbling with his nose and forced it back into place with a disgusting crack. Her gun stretched out and aimed for a kill shot. “Zoe. I don’t blame you for wanting to kill me, but all I wanted was to give Willow a chance at a better life.” “Jayne, did you actually think the Alliance would have gave her a life worth living.” Mal kneeled down to look the bloody man in the eyes. He reached into the inside of his coat and took out a handkerchief. “Clean yourself up, I don’t want blood all over Serenity.” Jayne looked over at Zoe who still had the gun pointed at his head. She took a step back and lowered it back to her side. Jayne pushed himself back up and walked briskly to the ship. “Sir, is Jayne going to cause us any more problems? Cuz I have no problems shooting him in the head.” Zoe asked as she helped her Captain up from the soft green grass. “This is the second time on this planet I wanted to kill him. And I still let him back on the ship.” Mal looked into Zoe’s brown eyes. “You’re getting soft on me Cap.” The two army buddies joined the rest of the crew on Serenity. With a rocky start and a turbulent take off, the browncoats were on their way to their new destination.